[CR]RE: Mercian Cyclocross

(Example: Framebuilders:Cecil Behringer)

From: "Mark Ritz" <ritzmon@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, <tod@tkopix.com>
References: <MONKEYFOODRDT6Z3Lst000018ea@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 08:06:07 -0800
Thread-Index: AcdeCblOzu99fl9gRqiCKvZ6RxGuhQAbEKIA
In-Reply-To:
Subject: [CR]RE: Mercian Cyclocross

Tod sez: Howdy,

I picked up a frame today off of Craigslist. Looked interesting lugged with canti bosses no eyelets.. 20 bucks.. The paint is in gross condition, somebody started stripping and stopped halfway through. There are remnants of Mercian decals all over the bike (headtube,seattube.downtube). It has diamond shaped cut outs in the lugs, italian concave seat stays looking.. On one of the paint levels i found a remnant of Tange tubing sticker.. the fork steer says Tange.. The dropouts are Suntour GS. The serial number is also odd.. 378033... All of which does not seem to point to any Mercian I researched this afternoon..

Tod,

I think you're right; that's no Mercian. It looks to me like a mid-80's Univega Gran Turismo, the touring bike of the line. I sold a lot of these in the day. The staycaps, lugs, and bottom bracket, even the braze-on cable stop on the chainstay, all point to this or a similar Miyata model. I think the previous owner removed the eyelets that would have been on the bike. Hopefully, others can chime in...

Mark Ritz Missing the NAHMBS in Arcata, CA But I rode my SOMEC yesterday and it didn't rain!